'Gossip Girl' star lands major record deal

Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester has landed her first major record deal.

The actress, who plays Blair Waldorf in the CW drama, has inked a contract to release her debut album with Universal Republic Records.

Speaking to PerezHilton, Meester admitted that she was "thrilled", adding: "Their reputation for nurturing artists combined with a willingness to break new ground makes it the ultimate environment for me to enjoy making music and explore my own creative boundaries.

"I look forward to a great working relationship."

Earlier this year, the star described her forthcoming LP as "the ultimate karaoke" soundtrack, explaining: "It's a mixture of different types of music. It's vibey and sexy and really fun and upbeat."

Other artists signed to Universal Republic include Gabriella Cilmi and Tori Amos.